Columbus Police Officer Traci Shaw will go on trial on Monday for alleged actions during the downtown protests following the 2020 murder of George Floyd. Shaw is accused of pepper spraying a group of women without provocation during the protests.
Shaw faces four counts each of misdemeanor assault, dereliction of duty and interference with civil rights.
The incident happened near the intersection of High and Goodale streets, and was captured on a cell phone.
In the video, the officer identified as Shaw exits her cruiser and immediately pepper sprays the four women.
Special prosecutor Kathleen Garber said Shaw, a veteran training instructor at the Columbus Police Academy, should have known her actions were inappropriate.
"When someone is treating members of the community like that, and then training new officers on how to police how to protect and serve. I think that's an enormous problem," Garber said.
Last week, a judge found another officer, Sgt. Holly Kanode, not guilty of two misdemeanor charges also related to the 2020 protests.
"I don't believe that just giving them a pass and not pursuing criminal charges simply because they're police officers is going to build the trust in the community that we need. The victims deserve justice," Garber said.
A third officer, Phillip Walls, also faces charges for allegedly pepper spraying protesters.
